The lobotomized masss love it!

We went the second week of October this past fall. It was not crowded but it was a little warm. I think it was worth taking my elementary aged child out of school for a few days. I would not have been able to handle it if it was crowded and my DH would have had a melt down if it was. We all had a great time and plan to go back around the same time in a few years.

Anonymous wrote:My sympathies, OP. Worst vacation we ever took. Even the kids didn't like it -- the crowds, the overstimulation....

This is how I feel about it too.

Anonymous wrote:My sympathies, OP. Worst vacation we ever took. Even the kids didn't like it -- the crowds, the overstimulation....

I'm so sorry. Disney really sucks during the crowded times, but it's a blast when it's not crowded.

Anonymous wrote:However, insisting that we go during an off time when it will not be exceptionally crowded. What's your best recommendation for time of year to avoid the school break and holiday crowds?

Pay 10 bucks and get a membership at TouringPlans.com. It will give you the expected crowd levels for every day of the year at every park. In general, the first few week after Labor Day until the week before Thanksgiving is a low time. Thanksgiving Week is very busy. It's not too bad during the first two weeks of December and then it gets busy again. The second week of January until the first week of February is usually a slow period. The first couple of weeks after Easter until the second week of May are usually pretty good, too.

Stay away from Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, the Fourth of July, Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, Presidents' Day Weekend, Easter, and the Spring Break months.

Your plan to go during the off season is very wise. It's a little cheaper and it's much more pleasant.

We've been twice in January, and the crowds were not bad at all. The only thing is, a lot of tour groups of young people (high school age?) from Brazil go at that time. They can be pushy-one actually physically pushed my son, age 7 at the time, to the ground when we were in a crowd trying to move towards the exit after fireworks! Google "Brazilian Tour Groups Disney" and you'll see I'm not alone.
Still, if you can avoid the tour groups (AVOID the hotels they stay at--generally the "value" resorts) January is not very crowded time.

We've also been in early-mid November and it was WONDERFUL. No crowds--and they've started putting up the holiday decorations, so it's beautiful and festive. Go the week before Thanksgiving week--so for 2013, that would be November 17-23. Actually, I'd leave on or before the 23rd--as that will be the first days of crowds for Thanksgiving. Only downside to this time is it's generally a little too cold to swim.

We've also been in mid-late May. We were there last year for the last week of Epcot's garden festival and the first weekend of Star Wars Weekends. Hollywood Studios was a bit crowded for the Star Wars stuff, but everything else the crowds were low. You could just avoid Hollywood Studios on the weekends--see that during the week. The weather was perfect for swimming during this time.

We went during the second to last week in Oct. still hot which was great for the pools. No rain and zero lines. On many rides we would stay in and go around again. It was great. I have no idea how/why people do it's urging peak times. I will admit I was t excited and felt overwhelmed before. So great though when we were there! We also stayed off propery at a timeshare resort which was cheap so we did a whole week. This gave us a day in each park then plenty of days at the resort pools. Worked out perfectly.

I've gone at different times of the year, over the years. Just went in October and it was very hot and humid, but I think less crowded than the summer months. Do not go in August. I've been in February a bunch of times, and it can be pretty chilly at that time of year -- I can recall 50's and 60's, wearing a light jacket, and definitely no swimming. Depends what you are looking for! It is probably less crowded at that time because the weather isn't as nice.

We went in early February and it was great! The parks were never crowded and my kids went on each ride multiple times over and over again with no wait. We did have to wait 20 minutes for Soaring at Epcot on the weekend. Highly recommend going during a non-peak time. It was a little chilly but not having to deal with crowds or lines was wonderful.

I didn't want to go and I went and loved it. Over the past several years the parks have gotten more run down but its still worth going at least once for a few days.

Sheesh. If you're going to be Cruella Deville, then don't go.

Anonymous wrote:Winter. We go at the end of January (when FCPS has it's 2 day teacher work days) and it's not crowded.

+1. In addition to not crowded -- the temps are nice. You don't have to deal with sweltering heat.

My sympathies, OP. Worst vacation we ever took. Even the kids didn't like it -- the crowds, the overstimulation....

Winter. We go at the end of January (when FCPS has it's 2 day teacher work days) and it's not crowded.

However, insisting that we go during an off time when it will not be exceptionally crowded. What's your best recommendation for time of year to avoid the school break and holiday crowds?